Social housing and how to apply

All Council and Housing Association properties in Mid Suffolk are advertised through Gateway to Homechoice. It is operated by Mid Suffolk District Council in partnership with seven other councils in Suffolk and Essex. Vacancies are advertised each week and applicants can generally apply for specific properties in any of the eight areas.

To apply to join the register, please visit www.gatewaytohomechoice.org.uk.

If you do not have access to the internet, there are computers available at:- 

Can I apply by telephone? 

To apply by telephone, please contact our Housing Options Team on:  01449 724762.

Who do I contact if I need help with my application?

If you would like assistance with your online application, please call our Housing Options Team on:  01449 724762.

Private rented accommodation

If you are looking for private rented accommodation, there are a number of places to look:

• shop windows and noticeboards,
• local papers advertise properties to let on a Thursday,
• estate agencies,
• word of mouth - make sure your family and friends know you are looking for somewhere to live.

Below are details of some estate agents which advertise private rented properties. Not all accept people who are claiming Housing Benefit. Others can be found in the Yellow Pages.

Stowmarket
Lacy Scott and Knight : 01449 612384 - www.lsk.co.uk
Paul Wright : 01449 613678 - www.paulwright.co.uk
Berwicks : 01449 770330
Bucks : 01449 614700 - www.buckspropertyagents.com
Shorts : 01449 616666 - www.shortspropertypeople.co.uk
Martin & Co: 01449 833033 - www.martinco.com  

Diss
Durrants : 01379 642233 - www.durrants.com
Thomas W Gaze : 01379 641341 - www.twgaze.com

Woodbridge
JSM Property Management : 01394 380218 - www.jsmproperty.com
BHH Property Co : 01394 380990
Martin & Co: 01394 366066 - www.martinco.com  

Needham Market
Hamilton Smith : 01449 722006 - www.hamiltonsmithlettings.com

There are also a number of web sites advertising rental properties:

• www.rightmove.co.uk
• www.findaproperty.com
• http://uk.easyroommate.com/ 
• www.homesforstudents.co.uk
• http://www.propertyads.co.uk/

If you are looking for a room to rent, there the following websites may be useful:

• www.spareroom.co.uk
• www.flatshare.com
• www.flatmaterooms.co.uk/suffolk

Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance

You may be able to get some help with your rent if your income and savings are below a certain level. The amount you are entitled to depends on a number of things:

• money you and your partner or civil partner have coming in, including earnings, some benefits and tax credits, and occupational pensions;
• your savings (and your partner's or civil partner's savings);
• your circumstances, such as your age, the size of your family and their ages, whether you or any of your family are disabled, and whether anyone who lives with you could help with the rent.

Your council will also look at whether:

• the amount of rent is reasonable for your particular home;
• your home is a reasonable size for you and your family;
• the amount of rent is reasonable for the area where you live.

Rent Deposit Scheme

If you have to leave your present home, the Council’s Rent Deposit Scheme may be able to help you access private rented accommodation. A guarantee or in certain circumstances a loan for rent in advance and a damage deposit can be paid. The sum provided will depend on your needs and personal circumstances and on the budget available. For more information, telephone 01449 724754.

Shared Ownership / HomeBuy

There are a number of low cost home ownership options to make home ownership more affordable. To find out more information and if you are eligible, contact Orbit Homebuy on www.orbithomebuyagents.co.uk or telephone 03458 50 20 50.

Housing, Help and Work Advice

If you are looking for a home or worried about managing in your present accommodation Housing Help and Work Advice could provide you with some answers.

Housing Help and Work Advice is a web-based service which has been developed by a partnership of local authorities in Suffolk and Essex. It provides information and advice tailored to individual circumstances. Once you have logged on you will be asked a few questions about yourself, your present accommodation and what kind of help you are looking for.

You will then be given information about ways in which you can help yourself as well as being directed to organisations which could help with your specific concerns or problems.

There are also sections on:-

• finding a new job or getting support to help you back to work
• money and debt advice
• health and support

Getting started is easy. Just click here: https://housingandhelp.ehodirect.org.uk.

After entering your name, gender and date of birth you will be given a registration number and password which will allow you to go back at any time in the future. Telephone numbers and email addresses are optional and any information you enter is totally secure and can only be accessed by you.

We would appreciate your views or ideas for development of the site. Please contact sue.lister@midsuffolk.gov.uk if you have any suggestions for improvement.


Housing for Older People

Sheltered Housing

There are a number of sheltered housing schemes throughout Mid Suffolk for people who are over 60 or over 55 and in receipt of disability allowance. Designed and built with the needs of older people in mind, sheltered flats and bungalows suit people who can live independently but who would welcome the support of a scheme manager, an alarm to summon help in an emergency and some communal facilities such as a common room.

Very sheltered housing

To be eligible for very sheltered housing, you need to be over 55 and in need of at least 4 hours personal care a week.

There are two Very Sheltered Housing schemes in Mid Suffolk:
Steeple View in Stowupland is for rent and is owned and run by Orwell Housing Association. Further details are available at www.orwell-housing.co.uk Telephone: 01473 218818.
The apartments in Mere View in Haughley are for shared ownership. Further details are available at www.housing21.co.uk Telephone: 0370 192 4000.

Information about other sources of housing for older people, such as private developments, is available at ww.housingcare.org
Telephone Number: 0800 377 7070
Email Address: info@firststopadvice.org.uk 
Correspondence Address: EAC FirstStop Advice, 3rd Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP.


Housing for Young People

Flagship Foyers in Stowmarket and Eye offer supported housing for young people aged 16 to 24. For more information and an application form contact – Stowmarket: 01449 677276 or Eye: 01379 870848.

Advice about domestic violence and abuse

If you are looking for a new home because of domestic violence or abuse there is a 24 hour free phone National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and a Suffolk (non-police) information line on 0800 783 5121.

Hostels

There is no hostel accommodation in the Mid Suffolk area. Below are details of some hostels in the surrounding area.

Name: IHAG
Location: Ipswich
Telephone Number: 01473 213102
Website: www.ihag.co.uk
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: Application form

Name: Christchurch House
Location: Ipswich
Telephone Number: 01473 252915
Website: www.orwell-housing.co.uk
Client group: 16 to 30 year olds
Access: Application form

Name: YMCA
Location: Ipswich
Telephone Number: 01473 252456
Website: www.ymca.org.uk
Client group: 16 to 35 year olds
Access: Direct access hostel and application form for flats

Name: Salvation Army
Location: Ipswich
Telephone Number: 01473 251070
Website: www1.salvationarmy.org.uk
Client group: Single homeless men
Access: Interview and assessment

Name: St Matthew Housing
Location: Locations across Suffolk
Telephone Number: 01284 732550
Website: www.stmatthewhousing.org
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: Individual assessment

Name: Stonham Britannia House
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Telephone Number: 01284 756122
Website: http://homelessuk.org
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: Application form

Name: Tayfen House
Location: Bury St Edmunds
Telephone Number: 01284 725487
Website: www.havebury.com
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: Direct access. Phone for details

Name:Emmaus Cambridge
Location: Cambridge
Telephone Number: 01284 863657
Website: www.emmauscambridge.org
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: Application form

Name: Jimmy's Night Shelter
Location: Cambridge
Telephone Number: 01223 576085
Website: www.jimmyscambridge.org.uk
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: First come first served after 6pm

Name: Herring House Trust
Location: Great Yarmouth
Telephone Number: 01497 331524
Website: www.herringhousetrust.co.uk
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: Individual assessment

Name: Colchester Night Shelter
Location: Colchester
Telephone number: 01206 549885
Website: www.colchesternightshelter.org.uk
Client group: Single homeless people
Access: Direct access. Phone before 9.30am